Container carrier package

ABSTRACT

A container package including one or more containers or the like in a plastic sheet carrier device having a corresponding number of constrictive apertures provided therein for receiving and gripping containers to form a multipackage unit, the plastic sheet carrier device including features of the one or more several embodiments disclosed which enhance the tensile strength of each of the constrictive apertures of the carrier device as well as the carrier device itself.

United States Patent 1 Rapata 5 Earn. 16, 1973 [54] CONTAINER CARRIERPACKAGE [75] Inventor: George M. Rapata, Park Ridge, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc., Chicago,

Ill.

[22] Filed: July 9, 1971 [21] Appl. N0.: 161,264

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 777,441,Nov. 20, 1968,

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. ..294/87.2, 206/65 C [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 71/00 [58] Fieldof Search ..D7/178; 206/65 C; 220/315; 294/872 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,487,109 11/1949 Deichert ..294/87.2 2,936,070

5/1960 Poupitch 294/872 X 3,038,602 6/1962 Rapata 3,200,944 8/1965Rapata 3,232,422 2/1966 Whyte 3,317,234 5/1967 Burford..... 3,432,2023/1969 1 Ebelhardt ..294/87.2

Primary ExaminerRichard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-W. Scott CarsonAttorney-Robert W. Beart, Michael Kovac, Barry L. Clark and Jack R.Halvorsen [57] ABSTRACT A container package including one or morecontainers or the like in a plastic sheet carrier device having acorresponding number of constrictive apertures provided therein forreceiving and gripping containers to form a multipackage unit, theplastic sheet carrier device including features of the one or moreseveral embodiments disclosed which enhance the tensile strength of eachof the constrictive apertures of the carrier device as well as thecarrier device itself.

8 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAN 16 1975 3, 71 l. 145

sum 1 0F 2 l4c 28c 30c 26c INVENTOR. George M. Rape/a 85 BY a f 26d L97% PATENTEDJAH 16 ms 3.71 l. 145

SHEET 2 OF 2 I N VENTOR. George M. Rapafa 13v CONTAINER CARRIER PACKAGEThe instant application is a streamlined continuation of applicationSer. No. 777,441, filed Nov. 20, 1968, now abandoned.

Multipackaging of containers, such as canned food products, has receivedsubstantial impetus from the development of plastic sheet carrierdevices of the type disclosed and claimed in US. Pat. No. 2,874,835issued to O. J. Poupitch. The many advantages of such plastic sheetcarrier devices over competitive paperboard products, such as relativesimplicity, adaptability to high speed application techniques, ease ofremoval, economic feasibility, and numerous other advantages well knownto those skilled in the art, has resulted in the enthusiastic commercialacceptance of such plastic sheet carrier devices for a wide variety ofcontainer products of diverse sizes.

In a typical container package of the type described, a plurality ofcontainers, inmultiples of two, are secured together as a unit by theplastic sheet carrier device having constrictive apertures providedtherein which are designed to resiliently grip and engage the containersbeneath an enlarged bead or rim on each container to prevent containerwithdrawal. Due to limitations regarding elasticity, the materialadjacent each aperture is designed to be stretched within predeterminedlimits to avoid deformation which would interfere with the resilient andelastic gripping characteristics of each constrictive aperture. As aresult, it is necessary to provide several carrier devices havingdifferent constrictive aperture diameters for accepting and carryingcontainers of different diameters.

Within existing and known parameters it has not been possible toachieve-increased tensile strength of the material surrounding eachconstrictive aperture without increasing the width of the band such asby elongation or by providing more material which has the attendantdisadvantages that the material or fabrication cost'as well asapplication techniques and consumer preferences will be affectedthereby.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aplastic sheet carrierdevice of the type described which includesfeatures which will enhance the tensile strength of the carrier withoutincreasing material cost and/or fabrication techniques, and whichadditionally may provide a carrier device which utilizes less materialthan that currently achievable in known and existing plastic sheetcarrier devices.

' Another object of the present invention is to provide a plastic sheetcarrier device which can be made relatively adaptable to accommodatevarious container sizes.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a plasticsheet carrier device which can also provide controlled bending atselected locations without jeopardizing or impeding the gripping andcarrying function of the carrier.

It is another object of the present invention to pro vide a carrierdevice which, in addition to the aforementioned objects, is compatiblewith existing carrier fabrication and application techniques as well asconsumer preferences for the current commercially available carrierdevices.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention areattained, in a container package having at least one container or thelike, a plastic sheet carrier device including handle means wherein thecarrier device is made from a resilient, elastic and deformable materialand is provided with at least one container receiving aperture, thematerial adjacent each such aperture having a cross sectionalconfiguration whereby upon the insertion of a container axially througheach such aperture, the surrounding material is stretched for grippingand resiliently engaging the container to resist container withdrawal,and groove means impressed in the plastic sheet carrier adjacent eachsuch aperture at least to an extent which increases the tensile strengthof the material adjacent each such aperture.

Reference is now made to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container package showing a pluralityof containers which are secured together as a unit by a plastic sheetcarrier device incorporating features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the plastic sheet carrier device prior toits application to a plurality of containers as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the plastic sheet carrier device as viewedalong lines 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partially in section,which'illustrates the manner in which the plastic sheet carrier deviceshown in section resiliently grips and engages containers arranged inthe manner shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5a is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a modified carrierdevice within the purview of the present invention;

FIG. 5b is a fragmentary side elevational view, partially in section,depicting the carrier device of FIG. 5a

assembled to and resiliently gripping and engaging the illustratedcontainer;

FIGS. 6a 6b are views similar to FIGS. 5a 5b and illustrate inpre-assembly and assembled form a modified carrier device also withinthe scope of the present invention;

FIGS. 7a 7b are views also similar to FIGS. 5a 5b and depicting afurther modified form of carrier device shown prior to and afterassembly to a container;

FIGS. 8a 8b are views also similar to FIGS. 5a 5b and depicting andadditional modified form of carrier device prior to and after assemblyto a container;

FIGS. 9 15 are fragmentary top plan views of various modified forms ofplastic sheet carrier devices, all of which incorporate the features ofthe presentinvention; and

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a modified carrierdevice coming within the scope o the present invention.

The container package 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings includessix beverage containers arranged in a cluster and held together by aplastic sheet carrier device 14 of the general type disclosed in US.Pat. No. 2,874,835 previously mentioned. As is well known to consumers,the multipackage unit or container package 10 forms the six pack whichis generally available in various food stores. It will be appreciatedthat while the present invention will be generally described in terms ofthis type of multipackaging unit, it has adaptability for containerpackages comprising one or more container units. I

Each of the containers 12 of the container package areof the type whichincludes a cylindrical side wall 16, the opposite ends of which arejoined to top and bottom covers or ends 18, respectively in aconventional manner to provide rolled, enlarged peripheral beads or rims22, 24 respectively at the upper and lower ends of the containers 12.The containers 12 are thus of the three-piece metal beverage can varietywhich are commonly used for a variety of food products. It will beappreciated and understood, however, that other types of containers ofvarious shapes and sizes such as bottles, rectangularly shapedcontainers, and the like may also be used in conjunction with theappropriately configured carrier devices incorporating the features ofthe present invention,

The plastic sheet carrier device 14, as previously indicated, is of thetype shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,874,835 which comprises a flat sheet ofplastic material in which there are provided a plurality of spacedapertures for receiving containers, Each aperture of the carrier deviceis somewhat smaller than the diameter of the container with which thecarrier is to be assembled since the carrier device is made from aresilient, elastic and deformable plastic material, such aspolyethylene, to permit the surrounding material portions adjacent eachof the apertures to stretch and deform when the containers are insertedin the carrier apertures. When finally assembled, the material adjacenteach of the apertures is deflected upwardly into axially extending,embracing portions which resiliently and aggressively grip thecontainers, preferably beneath the enlarged bead or rim thereof at theupper end of the container, as at 22, to hold a plurality of containerstogether as a unit and prevent container withdrawal.

With the material which is being used today, such as polyethylene, ithas been found that containers of different sizes and capacities, andthus generally of different diameters have required different carrierdevices where the container receiving apertures thereof are variedproportionately relative to the diameter of the containers. There hasthus been limited versatility-in using the specific carrier device forcontainers of different diameters. Further, raw material and carrierfabrication cost, whether because of cost increases or as the result ofdifferent carrier device manufacture, have and will continue to play apart in the ultimate adoption of plastic sheet carrier devices for themyriad of container sizes which require carrier devices.

down the side wall below the upper bead or rim of the container than isdesired by the distributor of the canned products who print identifyingindicia such as trademarks and the like on the container side wall.

To achieve the above desired objectives, there is provided, as animportant feature of the present invention, groove means which isimpressed in theplastic sheet carrier adjacent each container receivingaperture at least to an extent which increases the tensile strength ofthe material adjacent each aperture. By providing such a groove means ina plastic sheet carrier of the type described, the molecules of thematerial willbecome oriented, and this provides'a substantial increasein the tensile strength of the material. There are various embodimentsof such groove means in several of the figures of the drawing, theparticular use of which in a given set of parameters depending upon theobjectives sought to be accomplished as will become apparent from thediscussion that is to follow. V

Referring first to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawing, it will be seen that thereis provided in the band of material 26 Plastic sheet carrier devicesmade from a resilient,

deformable and elastic material such as polyethylene yield specificcharacteristics which can be determined by comparing the size of thecontainer receiving aperture in'relation to the can diameter and thewidth of the material band which surrounds and resiliently grips thecontainer. At the present state of material development, it has not beenpossible to increase the tensile strength of the material bandsurrounding each container receiving aperture without either elongatingthe band by stretching or by providing'more material in the band. Bothof these approaches will result in increased raw material cost and/orcarrier fabrication cost, and further the carrier application techniquesmight require modification in applying such a modified carrier device tocontainers. Additionally, the band or sash of material surrounding eachcontainer may extend further surrounding each container receivingaperture 28 of the carrier device 14 a groove means 30. Each of thegroove means 30 comprises a circumferentially continuous groove orchannel which is impressed in the upper surface of the carrier device 14to such an extent that it orients the molecules of the material fromwhich the carrier'device is made and thus increases the tensile strengthof the band of material 26 around each container receiving aperture 28.The grooves or channels 30 may be impressed in the web of thermoplasticmaterial from which the carriers are made either before, during or afterthe formation of the carrier devices as may be desired.

By increasing the tensile strength, the resistance to lengthwise stressis increased, and thus the band of material 26 around each containerreceiving aperture 28 will be strengthened when applied and thereafterassembled to the containers 12 as illustrated in FlGS. 1-4 of thedrawings. In addition to the tensile strength, the coined or impressedgroove 30 adjacent each aperture 28 of the carrier will providecontrolled bending of that portion of the material band '26 within thegroove 30, and this feature can be taken advantage of in providingadditional versatility or flexibility'in carrier application techniquessuch as, for example, where different can diameters are involved.

The coined orimpressed groove feature in plastic sheet carrier devicesof the type described can be varied in size, location, number,circumferential arrangement, et cetera to promote or achieve variouspurposes. For example, the coined or impressed groove feature can beimportant from the standpoint of versatility in the use of less carrierdevices for awider range of container sizes than is presently available;it

- could be used to enable the use of less material in the Reference isnow made to the other embodiments as shown throughout the variousfigures of the drawings. To provide correspondence between the variousfigures,the same reference numeral will be used to designate the likeparts with an alphabetical sequence being employed to designatedifferent embodiments as described in consecutive fashion in thediscussion that is to follow.

FIGS. 5a 5b through 8a 8b depict various locations of the coined orimpressed groove both with respect to the upper or lower surface of thecarrier as well as the degree of spacing from the inner or outer marginsof the band of material surrounding each container receiving aperture.It will be appreciated that each material band may assume the shape ofaxially directed neck portions as indicated, for example, in FIG. 5b ofthe drawings.

In FIGS. 5a 5b, the carrier device 14a includes the groove 30a which islocated on the lower surface ofthe carrier device 14a and has a diametercorresponding to Y the external diameter of the rim or bead 22a and theopen upper end of the container 12a.

The carrier device 14b shown in FIG. 6a includes a groove 30b which isprovided in the upper surface of the carrier device 1412 and is spaced asubstantial distance from the air margins of the band of material 26bwhich surrounds each aperture. Thus, the groove 30b has a diametricalrelationship with respect to the container 12b such that the groove 30bhas a greater diametrical extent than any portion of the container 12bas will be seen in comparing the carrier device prior to assembly asseen in FIG. 6a and after assembly as viewed in 6b.

The embodiment of the carrier device 14c illustrated in FIGS. 7a 7bportrays the groove 300 as being provided in the upper surface of thecarrier device 140 with this location in close proximity to the innermargin of the band of material 260 such that the groove 300 has asmaller diametrical extent than the smallest or minimum diameter of thecontainer 12c. This is readily apparent in comparing FIGS. 7a 7b.

In addition to the possibility that the groove means may be provided inthe upper and lower surface of the container, it is also conceivablethat the inner and/or outer margins of the band of material may beutilized in achieving desired objectives. This is illustrated in FIGS.

8a 8b of the drawings wherein the groove 30d is impressed within theinner margin of the band of material 26d of the carrier 14d.

In addition to the location of the groove means, its type of style,including its cross sectional configuration, may be varied to suit theparameters required. This is illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 9 11 ofthe drawings where carrier devices l4e through 14g depict variousinterrupted styles of groove means 30e through 30g. In FIG. 9 of thedrawings, the interrupted style of groove means 30a provides groovemeans in each of the four quadrants of the band of material 26e whichsurrounds the container receiving aperture 28e. FIG. illustrates groovemeans 30f in opposing quadrants of the band of material 26f whichsurrounds the container receiving aperture 28f. In FIG. 11, theinterrupted style of groove means provide generally equal segments 30gwhich are spacedly arranged in equidistant fashion about each containerreceiving aperture 28g. The interrupted style of groove means willprovide increased strength areas at desired locations, such as thepoints of maximum stress encountered in the assembly of the carrierdevices by carrier application equipment. Additionally, the interruptedstyle can be utilized in various embodi ments to facilitate'removal ofcontainers from the carrier while at the same time providing greatertensile stress than has heretofore been available with the same type ofcarrier device absent the groove means illustrated.

Another feature which can be advantageously utilized is the relieving ofthe inner margin of the band of material which surrounds the containerreceiving aperture, in conjunction with groove means, to permit easyapplication and removal of the carrier from containers. Specifically, asillustrated in FIG. 12 of the drawings, the carrier device 14h includesa groove means 30h as in the previous embodiments, and additionally, isprovided with a convoluted or undulated surface 32 extending from theinner margin ,of the band of material 26h towards the groove means 30h.In addition to the convoluted or undulated portion 32, other means maybe provided for relieving the inner margin or portion of the materiallocated within the confines of the groove means 30h.

While the groove means are preferably of the type which extend in acircumferential manner about the container receiving aperture of acarrier device, it is contemplated that radial impressions 34 may beimpressed or coined in a carrier device 141' as illustrated in FIG. 13of the drawings to achieve the same or similar purpose as acircumferentially arranged groove means. In connection therewith, theradial impressions 34 may be associated with a circumferentiallyextending groove means 301' as, for example, shown in FIG. 13 of thedrawings.

The number of groove means may be varied, including the provision ofgroove means on the same or up,- posite sides of the carrier device.This is illustrated in FIGS. 14 15 of the drawings. In FIG. 14, there isprovided two concentric groove means 30j on the upper surface of thecarrier device. In FIG. 15, a single groove means 30k is provided on theupper surface of the carrier device 14k while a single concentric groovemeans 30k is provided on the lower surface of the carrier. FIG.

16 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrat ing that it ispossible to vary the width of the groove means 301 across the width ofthe material band 261. In this way, a marked difference in thestretchability of the material within and without the groove means30lwill be provided as may be desired in particular instances.Additionally, coaxial groove means, instead of concentric groove means,may be useful in achieving particular results in certain instances.

From the above, it will be appreciated that the present inventioncontemplates many various embodiments which may be usable by themselvesor in connection with one another to achieve the purposes heretoforementioned.-

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a plastic carrier member havingbands defining a plurality of apertures for receiving and retainingarticles therein, each aperture having an uninterrupted margin to whichstretching stresses are applied when an article is inserted into saidaperture, said bands having portions disposed between adjacent aperturesand portions extending outwardly therefrom, said plastic carrier memberbeing formed of a plastic material capable of sustaining molecularorientation, and means for con trolling the effects of stretchingstresses applied to the margin of each aperture in said membercomprising elongated indentation means arranged about the margin of eachaperture, at least a portion of the indentation means'being disposed inthe outwardly extending portions of said bands, said indentation meansimpressing the plastic material to an extent sufficient to orient themolecules in the material to resist rupture by stretching stressesapplied thereto.

2. A plastic carrier member as defined in claim 1, wherein saidelongated indentation means is arcuately shaped to conform to theconfiguration of the margins of the associated apertures.

3. A plastic carrier member as defined in claim 1, wherein saidelongated indentation means comprises a plurality of longitudinallyspaced sections arranged about the margins of the associatedape rtures.

4. A plastic carrier member as defined in claim 1, wherein saidelongated indentation means comprises a plurality of longitudinallyspaced sections arcuately shaped to conform to the configuration of themargins of the associated apertures.

5. A plastic carrier member as defined in claim I, wherein saidelongated indentation means comprises a plurality of continuousindentations arranged respectively around each aperture.

6 A plastic carrier member as defined in claim 5,

wherein said indentations are longitudinally arcuately

1. An article of manufacture comprising a plastic carrier member havingbands defining a plurality of apertures for receiving and retainingarticles therein, each aperture having an uninterrupted margin to whichstretching stresses are applied when an article is inserted into saidaperture, said bands having portions disposed between adjacent aperturesand portions extending outwardly therefrom, said plastic carrier memberbeing formed of a plastic material capable of sustaining molecularorientation, and means for controlling the effects of stretchingstresses applied to the margin of each aperture in said membercomprising elongated indentation means arranged about the margin of eachaperture, at least a portion of the indentation means being disposed inthe outwardly extending portions of said bands, said indentation meansimpressing the plastic material to an extent sufficient to orient themolecules in the material to resist rupture by stretching stressesapplied thereto.
 2. A plastic carrier member as defined in claim 1,wherein said elongated indentation means is arcuately shaped to conformto the configuration of the margins of the associated apertures.
 3. Aplastic carrier member as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongatedindentation means comprises a plurality of longitudinally spacedsections arranged about the margins of the associated apertures.
 4. Aplastic carrier member as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongatedindentation means comprises a plurality of longitudinally spacedsections arcuately shaped to conform to the configuration of the marginsof the associated apertures.
 5. A plastic carrier member as defined inclaim 1, wherein said elongated indentation means comprises a pluralityof continuous indentations arranged respectively around each aperture.6. A plastic carrier member as defined in claim 5, wherein saidindentations are longitudinally arcuately shaped.
 7. A plastic carriermember as defined in claim 1, wherein said carrier member is providedwith handle means disposed between said bands.
 8. A plastic carriermember as defined in claim 7, wherein said handle means is comprised ofspaced apertures in the plastic carrier member.